Joshua Nkomo

Joshua Nkomo
Nkomo in 1978
Vice-President of Zimbabwe
In office
1987–1999
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Vice PresidentSimon Muzenda
Succeeded byJoseph Msika
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
1980–1982
PresidentCanaan Banana
Prime MinisterRobert Mugabe
Personal details
Born(1917-06-19)19 June 1917
Southern Rhodesia
Died1 July 1999(1999-07-01) (aged 82)
Harare, Zimbabwe
NationalityZimbabwean
Political partyZAPU
ZANU-PF
Alma materTjolotjo Government Industrial School, Adams College, Jan Hofmeyer School of Social Workers
ProfessionPolitician, guerrilla leader, trade unionist, businessman

Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo (19 June 1917 – 1 July 1999) was the leader and founder of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and a member of the Ndebele (Kalanga) tribe.

Nkomo was jailed for ten years by Rhodesia's white minority government. After his release, ZAPU contributed to the fall of that government. Then they fought with a rival group led by Robert Mugabe. Mugabe became President of Zimbabwe. Nkomo was not trusted and eventually fled the country.

Honors

In 1999 Nkomo was declared a National Hero. He is buried in the National Heroes Acre in Harare.

On 27 June 2000, a set of four postage stamps were issued with Nkomo's image.

References

  1. ↑ Jessup, John E. An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Conflict and Conflict Resolution, 1945–1996. P. 533.
  2. ↑ Hill, Geoff. The Battle for Zimbabwe: The Final Countdown, 2003. Page 52.
  3. ↑ McNeil, Jr., Donald G. (2 July 1999). "Joshua Nkomo of Zimbabwe Is Dead at 62". New York Times. Retrieved 2 October 2016.

Further reading

Other websites